Before you laugh at the Bills for drafting E.J. Manuel . . .

Thursday

Apr 25, 2013 at 10:13 PM

please remember that Tom Brady was the 199th player selected in 2000.

Jim Donaldson

please remember that Tom Brady was the 199th player selected in 2000.

Manuel, who played at Florida State, wasn't widely considered to be a first-round pick, but the Bills, after trading down from the No. 8 slot in a deal with St. Louis, chose him at No.16 over the likes of West Virginia's Geno Smith, Matt Barkley of Southern Cal, and Ryan Nassib of Syracuse.

Manuel had said in the days leading up to the draft that the Eagles, Browns, Bills, and Jets all had expressed interest in taking him.

If Manuel isn't ready to go on opening day, when the Patriots play the Bills in Buffalo, it's likely that veteran Kevin Kolb will be the starter.